Redfish/Snook/Seatrout help

[tallydude]

Ok guys, the wife and I are at the vacation house on Florida's gulf coast, on Palm Island, near Boca Grande. I have decided to target redfish, snook, and seatrout while I'm here. I've never caught these fish before, and I'm here for two weeks.

Can someone give me some basic ideas on how to fish these areas?

Here are some pictures on what I'm working with:

[GitRDoneIke23]

CAN I COME!!!!!

Reds and Specks happen to be what I fish for most of the time. I mainly fish in Texas, but tactis remain the same everywhere.

As far a Lures, I'd buy some Bass Assasian Texas Shads in the following colors: Electric Chicken (Silly name Serious results!) Plum/Chart. tail Morning Glory and Pumpkin/Lime/White tail. http://www.bassassassin.com/c/-Texas-Shads/bass-fishing-lures/CAT-CA8E115/

Also get some Berkley Gulp! Saltwater Shrimp. In New Penny and Natural Shrimp, and Nuclear Chicken colors. http://www.berkley-fishing.com/prod.php?k=75101&sk=75077&u=GSSHR4

Thoose are my favorite brand but any brands will work fine. Except GULP!!! You HAVE to get GULP!!!

Fish them on 1/4oz. to 3/8 oz. Jig heads only for deeper water. 1/8 or even 1/16 oz will work good. You want the bait to kinda "free fall" that's when you'll get the most bites. Sure you won't cast as far, and it might feel like you can't really feel it, but free falling is what makes them bite. Give it kind of a "popping" action. Make it look like a shrimp. Just pop it a few times, reel, pop, etc.

Also you might try freel lineing some Gulp! peeler crabs.

If you have Bass topwaters, FISH THEM!!! Topwaters work for both fresh AND salt!

My favorite brands are:

Rapla: Skitter Walk

Heddon: Super Spook, Super Spook Jr. and Popping Image.

MirroLure: Top Dog and She Dog.

Colors: Bone, Black/Chart., Clown (it's a gold body with a Red head.), Black, and Silver Mullet.

Just "walk the dog" like you do for bass. I'll normally start out every morning with a top water for 30-45 mins. If no bites, I'll switch to a CORKY or a Jig.

CORKYS: http://www.corkybandl.com/products.htm

Any color works well, I like the Fat Boy Corky and Corky Devil. They also make Corky "nock offs" that work just as well. Look for them at the tackle store.

I fish corkys mainly in the winter. Just cast it out, let it sink for 10-15 seconds, pop 2-3 times, sink, repeat. It's BORING as dirt but it WORKS!!!

Rat-L-Traps work good too. Bascily any thing with Chrome.

Your Bass Spinnerbaits will also work well along weed beds. You might want to try removing the skirts and/or putting a Bass Assassin on it.

Spoons work good too just cast and retrive. Or if you're in deeper water let it flutter like you would for bass.

If the lures aren't producing, or you just want a change of pace, try some Croaker, Mud Minnows or Shrimp and maybe some Menhaden (shad) Only thing with shrimp is most anything eats it. (which isn't bad when you can't get anything else to bite!! Hey, some "trash" fish are better than NO fish right?!) You can cacth them with a cast net or swing by the bait shop. Crabs will also work well for Reds.

The key for winter is SLOW DOWN!!!

Also if you can, Try some night fishing with lights. This can be VERY effective. Use the same baits, but I normally stick with the Jigs.

One question, Do you have a boat or will you be bank fishing?

Let me know if you have ANY questions at ALL. I'll be MORE than happy to answer them!

Good luck and keep me posted!!!!

8-)

[tallydude]

Thanks for the advice! I have some of the 3" Berkley Gulp! shrimp (rigged weightlessly on a 4/0 Gamakatsu hook) and was getting bites on it, but felt that they were probably small junk fish due to the peck-peck-peck feel.

I am wading around since I have no boat and I had a snook swim right up to me yesterday. Haven't caught anything yet. Am I correct in my understanding that the best time to fish is with the rising tide?

[bocabasser]

CAN I COME!!!!!

Reds and Specks happen to be what I fish for most of the time. I mainly fish in Texas, but tactis remain the same everywhere.

As far a Lures, I'd buy some Bass Assasian Texas Shads in the following colors: Electric Chicken (Silly name Serious results!) Plum/Chart. tail Morning Glory and Pumpkin/Lime/White tail. http://www.bassassassin.com/c/-Texas-Shads/bass-fishing-lures/CAT-CA8E115/

Also get some Berkley Gulp! Saltwater Shrimp. In New Penny and Natural Shrimp, and Nuclear Chicken colors. http://www.berkley-fishing.com/prod.php?k=75101&sk=75077&u=GSSHR4

Thoose are my favorite brand but any brands will work fine. Except GULP!!! You HAVE to get GULP!!!

Fish them on 1/4oz. to 3/8 oz. Jig heads only for deeper water. 1/8 or even 1/16 oz will work good. You want the bait to kinda "free fall" that's when you'll get the most bites. Sure you won't cast as far, and it might feel like you can't really feel it, but free falling is what makes them bite. Give it kind of a "popping" action. Make it look like a shrimp. Just pop it a few times, reel, pop, etc.

Also you might try freel lineing some Gulp! peeler crabs.

If you have Bass topwaters, FISH THEM!!! Topwaters work for both fresh AND salt!

My favorite brands are:

Rapla: Skitter Walk

Heddon: Super Spook, Super Spook Jr. and Popping Image.

MirroLure: Top Dog and She Dog.

Colors: Bone, Black/Chart., Clown (it's a gold body with a Red head.), Black, and Silver Mullet.

Just "walk the dog" like you do for bass. I'll normally start out every morning with a top water for 30-45 mins. If no bites, I'll switch to a CORKY or a Jig.

CORKYS: http://www.corkybandl.com/products.htm

Any color works well, I like the Fat Boy Corky and Corky Devil. They also make Corky "nock offs" that work just as well. Look for them at the tackle store.

I fish corkys mainly in the winter. Just cast it out, let it sink for 10-15 seconds, pop 2-3 times, sink, repeat. It's BORING as dirt but it WORKS!!!

Rat-L-Traps work good too. Bascily any thing with Chrome.

Your Bass Spinnerbaits will also work well along weed beds. You might want to try removing the skirts and/or putting a Bass Assassin on it.

Spoons work good too just cast and retrive. Or if you're in deeper water let it flutter like you would for bass.

If the lures aren't producing, or you just want a change of pace, try some Croaker, Mud Minnows or Shrimp and maybe some Menhaden (shad) Only thing with shrimp is most anything eats it. (which isn't bad when you can't get anything else to bite!! Hey, some "trash" fish are better than NO fish right?!) You can cacth them with a cast net or swing by the bait shop. Crabs will also work well for Reds.

The key for winter is SLOW DOWN!!!

Also if you can, Try some night fishing with lights. This can be VERY effective. Use the same baits, but I normally stick with the Jigs.

One question, Do you have a boat or will you be bank fishing?

Let me know if you have ANY questions at ALL. I'll be MORE than happy to answer them!

Good luck and keep me posted!!!!

8-)

man that was a great response! after reading that, i hope you crush em wpd. have a good time.

[Bassn Blvd]

Jason, Jason, Jason.  Do I have to teach you everything.  As far as tides go, the most important thing is that the water is moving and not slack.  I prefer the last 1 1/2 of the incoming and first 1 1/2 of the outgoing.  But like I said, just make sure the tide is moving.  Look for some flats or areas where the grass is growing.  (in the water, not in the yard) and try your jerk baits. Try top water,  spooks and "walk The Dog" lures 1st thing in morning.  Try this too.  Cast a chunk of mullet as far under the Mangroves as you can. No bobber.  You can use a weight to help keep it stationary, 1- 1.5 ounce should work.  Use a 2ft mono leader but  do this when the tide is high and starting to go out.  The reds and snook will move in to feed on the baitfish that get washed out of the mangroves as the tide goes out.  Look for oyster bars also, they hold fish.  

Don't forget, the trout will have teeth and the snook have razor sharp gill plates so be careful.

[Bassn Blvd]

Oh yea, The baby should be here Monday if not over the weekend.

We will induce on Monday. or planning to anyways.

[tallydude]

Awesome! Keep me posted!

[GitRDoneIke23]

  As far as tides go, the most important thing is that the water is moving and not slack.

Don't forget, the trout will have teeth and the snook have razor sharp gill plates so be careful.

Like he said, the best time is when the tide is MOVING. The local weather reports often only show the highs and lows. Look online or somwhere where you can see DETAILED reports.

Fish when the tides change the most.

Also the Trout have 2 VERY sharp teeth. It's best not to "lip land" them like you woild a bass ;D ;D A landing net works GREAT!!!

I might get some heat from the Catch and Release gang, but trout are AWESOME eating!!!! same goes for Reds!!!

*Please note that I am NOT opposed to Catch and Release. I practice it almost EVCLUSIVLY for bass, but when the fishies taste good. Most often the get released into the frying pan!

8-)

[tallydude]

Oh, believe me, if it's in the limit, it's going to the kitchen!

[GitRDoneIke23]

Oh, believe me, if it's in the limit, it's going to the kitchen!

HECK YA!!!! They're WAAAAAAY to good eating to go to waste!!! How's it coming over there???  :-? :-?

8-)

[LCpointerKILLA]

Whenever I have NOT sight-fished Redfish all my luck has been from fishing creekmouths on an outgoing tide. Can't say that I can agree with the techniques the man with the long response said, but he sounds like he knows what he is doing.

**I would tell you DONT buy the GULP shrimp. It's action stinks. I am total fanatic of the GULP jerk shad in pearl white or glow, basically any white or bright.

I mainly only fish for trout and redfish, because my closest destination is Mosquito Lagoon and surrounding area. So unfortunately I only get to fish for snook when I journey down to my buddies place in Venice, where I had an awesome day last year basically beating the docks exactly like bass fishing, with this Y0'Zuri Mag Popper. It was killer I caught five medium to large snooks and ended up losing that lure when my line got wrapped around a piling.

But anyways, man you are going to have the best time wading. Don't worry about not having a boat, you will catch so many fish. JUST USE GULP SHAD!!!----Just kidding man. Have fun!

[GitRDoneIke23]

 he sounds like he knows what he is doing.

**I would tell you DONT buy the GULP shrimp. It's action stinks. I am total fanatic of the GULP jerk shad in pearl white or glow, basically any white or bright.

 Have fun!

You're dang right I know what I'm talking about!!!

I admit Gulp! shrimp's action stinks, and the Jerk shad is definatley a good one to use. Most often I'll use the shrimp on a popping cork. Also Bass Assasin has a Gulp "knock off" that works well too.

Like he said HAVE FUN!!!

8-)

[apathy]

Now this is my kind of fishing! I fish for trout and reds off Keaton Beach every weekend.

First thing to do is to buy a pack of 16 size hooks and catch some pinfish using a tiny piece of chicken gizzard as bait.

Then rig a weighted oval Cajun Thunder popping cork tied to about a 30" 20 or 30# fluoro leader. To that tie a 6/0 longshank hook. Hook a pinfish(smaller the better) through the eyesockets and toss him out. Pop the cork once every 15 seconds or so. Once the cork goes under, count one second for every inch of shiner. Then set the hook.

Another great way is the exact same thing, except instead of a 6/0 hook, use a 1/16 Saltwater Assassin jighead(reds my favorite) and pt a SWA Slurp/Blurp shrimp in golden bream, drunk monkey, or electric chicken. Fish same way, except set the hook as soon as the cork goes under.

Without a cork, I like a 1/8 red SW assassin jighead with a SWA slurp/blurp 4" paddletail shad in golden bream, drunk monkey, or electric chicken.

I catch most of my fish around 2 hours before dead high tide.

The popping cork rig is made for trout, but works great for reds too. A gold spoon, however, is the king of redfish lures. Use a slow steady retrieve with the rodtip just above the water. When you get a bite, set the hook hard to one side.

[GitRDoneIke23]

Now this is my kind of fishing! I fish for trout and reds off Keaton Beach every weekend.

First thing to do is to buy a pack of 16 size hooks and catch some pinfish using a tiny piece of chicken gizzard as bait.

Then rig a weighted oval Cajun Thunder popping cork tied to about a 30" 20 or 30# fluoro leader. To that tie a 6/0 longshank hook. Hook a pinfish(smaller the better) through the eyesockets and toss him out. Pop the cork once every 15 seconds or so. Once the cork goes under, count one second for every inch of shiner. Then set the hook.

Another great way is the exact same thing, except instead of a 6/0 hook, use a 1/16 Saltwater Assassin jighead(reds my favorite) and pt a Berkley Slurp/Blurp shrimp in golden bream, drunk monkey, or electric chicken. Fish same way, except set the hook as soon as the cork goes under.

Without a cork, I like a 1/8 red SW assassin jighead with a berkley slurp/blurp 4" paddletail shad in golden bream, drunk monkey, or electric chicken.

I catch most of my fish around 2 hours before dead high tide.

The popping cork rig is made for trout, but works great for reds too. A gold spoon, howver, is the king of redfish lures. Use a slow steady retrieve with the rodtip just above the water. When you get a bite, set the hook hard to one side.

Good advice. Where you from?

[Catt]

[apathy]

I live in Valdosta, GA, but have a house in Keaton Beach. Fish there every weekend.

[BirdNestBen]

Boy you've received some excellent advice here... I've caught them on the Berkley shrimp... very well in fact........

Still I'd stick with live shrimp under a popping cork... and freeline croaker...  you might also freeline the shrimp if the bite is slow.....

You definitely should catch a lot this way....  I catch the most before and during high tide....

If you decide to just stick with lures I'd follow what advice the other guys here have already given...

good luck.

[hawgchaser]

I am going to Venice on the 6th and you guys are killing me. I am obsessed with reds and trout aren't so bad either.

Good luck! I don't really have any advice as I usually throw whatever the guide tells me to. That consists of GULP turtle back worms(slaughtered them on these), GULP shrimp, and some black and chartreuse swimbait.

Keep us posted!